I don't run a club TheSnail - but I do make my living in them (as you should have seen from my posts above) and am actively and fully involved in the promotion of folk music in the UK by other means (and not just my own career).

We touring musos see it all. It's sometimes blindingly obvious why some clubs thrive and some don't - it's just that as guests we're in the wrong role to advise the failing ones where they may be going astray (though I try to give tactful advice whenever it seems appropriate), specially when we're staying with the organisers who are almost always really nice people (and often good freinds now) - specially if we've just had a bad night with a poor turn-out and we're all a bit raw about it.

Which club do you run then?

Incidentally it's mainly because I don't know who you all are that I won't use my name. I may need to ring you tonight for a gig, or even be playing your club tomorrow.

But I'm not Anon just to protect my ability to blag gigs off you and the others here. If you knew my name the debate might soon become personal, and so would loose much of its value to us all. (And I do think it's being very valuable, even if you think we're wasting our breath).

Also I have band members and colleagues to think of. They might not approve of me making such comments, as it could impact on their careers too if my name was known - but I do believe this discussion is vital, and that people like me, who have day-to-day experience of the root problems right across the country (which few club organisers do), should be able to speak freely.